Chapter 3: A Time-Travel Cheat That Arrives Late but Surely!

The group entered the manor.

Song Wei personally escorted her daughter to Gui Ning Courtyard, the largest and finest courtyard in the entire estate. It had been under construction since the day Mu Rong Shu was born.

Over the years, the courtyard had undergone continuous repairs and improvements. However, before Mu Rong Shu had a chance to live in it, she was taken to Tian Men Mountain by the hermit of the valley, and so many years had passed since then.

Though she had been absent from the Mu Rong household for all this time, everyone in the family had remembered her. They built her the most beautiful courtyard, with every single item inside being a rare treasure.

The courtyard was cleaned daily, fully equipped with everything one could need, and decorated in the latest styles trending in the capital. Every detail reflected her family’s thoughtfulness and care.

Mu Rong Shu felt deeply touched. At that moment, she fully embraced this family and everyone in it. They had treated her with such warmth and love.

Song Wei settled her daughter in the room, instructing Nanny Li to stay behind and look after her. Then she hurried off to the kitchen to prepare eight-treasure duck for her daughter.

As a mother, she had never felt this fulfilled. With her daughter’s return, her heart was finally complete.

Years ago, she had named this courtyard Gui Ning (Returning Serenity), hoping that her daughter would one day return, escape her ill-fated destiny, and live a safe and peaceful life.

By the time Mu Rong Shu washed away the dust of her journey and arrived at the old madam’s courtyard, the entire family had already gathered.

Hearing the maid announce her arrival, the old madam immediately invited her in. Before Mu Rong Shu could even greet her properly, her grandmother beckoned her forward.

“Shu Er, come here quickly. In this house, there’s no need for those formalities. You must be starving, let’s start eating right away!”

The old madam held her beloved granddaughter’s hand, unable to stop marveling at her. Her Shu Er is truly beautiful!

Hearing the old madam’s words, Song Wei and Rong Qing struggled to hold back their laughter, while the brothers Mu Shi and Mu Si stood dumbfounded. The other grandsons exchanged looks, too stunned to react.

Wasn’t it their mother who usually insisted they follow all the rules? Especially for Mu Shi and Mu Si, who, despite being grown men, were often scolded by their mother much to their chagrin.

“Thank you, Grandmother, for being so kind to Shu Er. I’ve just returned to the capital and don’t know much yet. I’ll need your guidance in the future!”

Mu Rong Shu clung affectionately to the old madam, her soft demeanor melting the elder’s heart.

“Our Shu Er is still young. You can learn slowly over time,” the old madam said, dismissing the need for strict rules. “Qing Er, quickly have the meal served. We can’t let Shu Er go hungry!”

Forgetting entirely about decorum and etiquette, the old madam waved her hand toward her second daughter-in-law.

“Mother, I’ve already arranged everything,” Rong Qing replied promptly. “Today, we’ll dine here in your courtyard, to welcome Shu Er home with a family reunion meal.”

She had long made preparations, feeling a pang of sympathy for this niece who had been away from home for so many years. Together with Mu Rong Shu, she helped the old madam to the dining room.

This reunion meal had been awaited by the Mu family for sixteen years. The whole family was overjoyed, and everyone fussed over Mu Rong Shu. If she so much as glanced at a dish, someone immediately placed it in her bowl.

Mu Shi and Mu Si even turned it into a competition, each vying to serve her first. Having lost the earlier chance to fetch his niece, Mu Si refused to lose in this regard.

As a result, under everyone’s watchful and caring eyes, Mu Rong Shu ate more than she intended.

After the meal, Song Wei, worried about her daughter overeating, ordered the kitchen to prepare digestive tea. The family gathered in the old madam’s courtyard to drink tea before dispersing to their own tasks.

The old madam, feeling sorry for her granddaughter’s tiring journey, insisted she return to Gui Ning Courtyard for a nap. Mu Rong Shu, still weary from the long carriage ride, didn’t refuse and headed back with her maid Xiao Tao.

It wasn’t until she lay on the soft, spacious bed that Mu Rong Shu felt truly alive again. A life without work, school, or experiments this carefree existence is bliss! She felt so happy that her joy seemed to bubble over.

Before the time travel, Mu Rong Shu had spent her days juggling clinic shifts, surgeries, learning traditional Chinese medicine from her grandfather, and conducting research with her maternal grandfather. Often, she didn’t even have time for proper meals.

Now, being able to relax like this felt like paradise. With these thoughts, she drifted into a contented sleep. Xiao Tao quietly stayed outside once she saw her mistress had fallen asleep.

Mu Rong Shu slept soundly and dreamed of her hospital and laboratory. However, this time, the hospital was earily empty, and the data in the lab was exactly where she had left it before fainting.

She wandered from the ground floor to the top-floor lab, finding everything in the hospital running normally. Elevators, water dispensers everything worked as if she had stepped into a parallel world.

When Mu Rong Shu woke up, she felt momentarily disoriented. It took her a few minutes to remember she had time-traveled to ancient times and that everything had just been a dream.

If only my lab came along in the time travel, she thought wistfully.

As if responding to her thoughts, the scene around her suddenly shifted. She found herself back in the hospital from her dream, while simultaneously aware that her body was still lying on the bed in the ancient world.

Overjoyed, Mu Rong Shu realized she had gained a time-travel cheat a portable space that included her entire hospital. A late but essential golden finger!

After experimenting a bit, she discovered she could freely enter and exit this space. She could also summon items like medicine through sheer thought. However, large objects weren’t transferable, but the medical supplies seemed to have an automatic replenishment feature.

With her new found treasure, Mu Rong Shu explored the space, now seeing it not as a workplace but as her private property. The joy made her want to burst out laughing.

When she exited the space, she was still grinning foolishly.

Hearing movement, Xiao Tao came to check and was startled to see her mistress smiling so oddly.

“Miss, are you getting up? Are you feeling unwell?” Xiao Tao asked worriedly.

Her voice snapped Mu Rong Shu out of her thoughts. She smiled and replied, “Yes, I’m getting up. Thank you for taking care of me. I feel refreshed after the nap.”

“Madam sent someone earlier to check if you were awake,” Xiao Tao said while helping her mistress freshen up.

“Did Mother say what it was about? Is it urgent?” Mu Rong Shu asked quickly, fearing she had kept her mother waiting.

“Don’t worry, Miss. It’s nothing urgent. Madam was just concerned about whether you’re settling in well. I already told her you were resting,” Xiao Tao explained while tidying Mu Rong Shu’s hair.

“As long as it’s nothing urgent. Let’s get ready to see Mother. Keep my hair simple,” Mu Rong Shu instructed, not wanting to appear overly formal.

“Miss, you’re naturally beautiful, you’re stunning even without any effort, just like Madam,” Xiao Tao said with a smile.

“If Mother heard you say that, she’d be delighted,”  Mu Rong Shu replied, laughing.

“It’s the truth, Miss,” Xiao Tao insisted.

“I think Mother is the most beautiful too!”

The two exchanged smiles, their mutual affection unspoken but deeply felt.